South Lakes MP urges Transport Secretary to stop shilly-shallying and sack Northern

The Liberal Democrats have called for the Transport Secretary to "sack Northern" following the announcement that Northern will be unable to continue in the long-term.

However, the Government is considering awarding Northern a short-term contract, a decision local MP Tim Farron has described as the "unthinkable."

Tim said: "The Conservative Government's big announcement on Northern is just more delay, something that rail passengers in the North are all too familiar with.

"It's completely unthinkable that the Secretary of State is prepared to award Northern a short-term contract, despite their complete failure to actually run trains on train lines.

"What more evidence does he need that this company are utterly incapable of running a half-decent train service?

"The Transport Secretary needs to stop shilly-shallying, pluck up the courage and sack Northern."